But just as the naturally patinated copper sheets were hauled off site, a savvy artist procured the scrap to create sculptural works and a limited-edition line of jewelry.

Flickr User tinydr

The Unitarian Meeting House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1946.

Scott Lesh, founder of LeDanse Limited Edition Jewelry, now offers the Wright-inspired earrings and pendants on designwithbenefits.com, a new site that promotes products and social efforts that use design to solve pressing global issues.

The artist’s copper forms are wrapped in sterling silver, and many feature freshwater pearls. The jewelry is described as “a timeless design with a significant history.”

The Church

Wright was commissioned to design the Meeting House in 1946; construction was completed in 1951.

The one-story limestone, copper and glass building is recognized as one of the most innovative examples of church architecture. In 1960, the American Institute of Architects honored the church as one of 17 buildings to be preserved as an example of Wright’s contribution to American culture.

The Meeting House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a declared National Historic Landmark. Extensive repairs and restoration on the church have been completed over the years, including the roof project.

An expansion of the Meeting House campus, designed by Kubala Washatko Architects, was completed in September 2008. The project won an AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project award in 2011.

Roof for a Roof

A portion of the jewelry proceeds is donated to help house the homeless, according to Design With Benefits and the artist.

“In this act of giving,” says the artist, “we partake in a kind of social poetry whereby the removal and transformation of one roof serves to place a roof over the heads of people in need.”

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Jill M. Speegle

Jill Speegle is the Editor of Durability + Design News. She earned her B.A. in journalism and English as well as her J.D. from the University of Arkansas. In Sketches, Jill shares her thoughts on a number of topics that may be of interest to the D+D community, including architecture, interior design, green building, historic restoration, and whatever else catches her radar.

For unlimited access to all the content on our site, register now. It’s fast and FREE! You’ll have a wealth of searchable resources at your fingertips, including news, technical articles, videos, webinars, problem-solving forums and much more.